The Dodgers and Blue Jays discuss what makes Shohei Ohtani such a special player
USA TODAY Sports caught up with members of the Dodgers and Blue Jays before the World Series to discuss the unique talents of Shoehi Ohtani.
Athletic pulse
TORONTO — Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero walked down the aisle Friday night at Rogers Center with a few friends, greeted a familiar face, and said simply: “Game 7.”
He extended his hands, exhaled, and shook his head.
Guerrero played in just one World Series during his 16-year career and never won a title, and his son Vladimir Jr. has a chance to go where he’s never gone, playing in Game 7 of the World Series against the United States. Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday evening after losing 3-1 in the sixth match.
The Blue Jays will now have to do it the hard way, as Shohei Ohtani is expected to start — or perhaps even throw the ball late, meaning he may have to pitch to the field to stay in the game after pitching.
“It’s a possibility,” Roberts said when asked if Ohtani would start. “We’re not sure, but it’s a possibility.”
The original plan was for Tyler Glasnow to start, but he pitched in the ninth game of game six after rookie Rōki Sasaki tired, shutting out the game.
“That was pretty cool,” Glasnow said, producing his first save of the World Series.
Now he sets the magical stage for Ohtani, who saved the World Baseball Classic for Team Japan, beating out Angels teammate Mike Trout to seal the gold medal.
Neither team has much Game 7 experience, as the Blue Jays have never played a Game 7 while the Dodgers have lost their last seven World Series games in 2017 against the Dodgers. Houston Astros.
“It’s going to be electric here,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.
“We had our chances with the starters as the game went on. But we will be ready to play.” [Saturday]. Everyone will be ready to play. I expect them to play cards around one o’clock in the afternoon, as a sort of bonfire [stuff] With everyone. It’s going to be fun here. But for the fans. See you later [Saturday] Night. Be loud, be loud. “We will be ready to play.”
If they had their experts, of course, the series would have been over already. But Yoshinobu Yamamoto never gave them a chance. He gave up just five hits and one run in six innings, suspending their bullpen for life, and even using Glasnow, who was originally expected to start Game 7.
That honor will now likely go to Ohtani.
“Just knowing what his temperature is starting versus coming out of the pen, so we’re close to making a decision,” Roberts said.
Ohtani has never had a three-day rest in his MLB career, but this is the World Series.
“This is Game 7, so there’s a lot of things people didn’t do,” Roberts said. “You just have to trust your players and try to win a baseball game.
What is Ohtani’s superhuman feat that should be recorded in the history books?
“We’ll leave it there,” Roberts said. “I don’t think the pressure and the moment will be too big for us. We have to go out there and win one baseball game. We’ve done that all year. Everyone is committed. So I don’t know how the game is going to go, but as far as the moment, winning the game, I couldn’t be more excited to go to sleep and wake up to play a baseball game.”
Game 7, there’s nothing like it.
“It’s going to be three, four, five hours of chaos and great baseball,” Schneider said. “These guys are going to be ready for it. Hopefully they can take things slow but enjoy it.”
“It’s Game 7 of the World Series on your home field. I mean, what the hell do you want?”
